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The 6 Best Bitcoin Wallets for Android

New to bitcoin? Finding your very own bitcoin wallet for your Android device is the first step towards becoming savvy with cryptocurrency. Please keep in mind, however, that using an Android wallet or any mobile wallet isn't exactly the most secure, and users should always take caution when using them. Read the notes at the bottom of this article for more information.

All mobile bitcoin wallets, whether hosted on iOS or Androids, are the least secure way of handling bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Some reasons include losing your wallet by losing your device or becoming a victim of theft, having the phone break without any backups to restore, or intruders using your phone without permission. Your wallet's private key is stored on the mobile wallet you use, meaning anyone with access to your phone can use your bitcoin app to send money to themselves!

Of course, creating a backup is always possible and one of the first thing wallet users should do. You'll receive a 12-24 word seed phrase shown when first installing your wallet if you ever need to recover lost information. Keep this seed safe! If anything were to ever happen, this is your plan B. Again, whether you're on Android or iOS, ALWAYS create a backup! Now, for our top six wallets:

The Best Bitcoin Apps of 2017:

1. MyCelium

Mycelium, although complex to many newbies, is one of the most popular mobile device wallets. Equipping with a plethora of advanced privacy and security features for hardcore users, Mycelium is one of the safest and fastest functioning wallets you can find on the market. Again, it might have a learning curve for newbies, but it's well worth overcoming.

One thing people often overlook is the fact that it's open source, meaning the community is always keeping a close eye on the future of this wallet and making sure it's always safe to use and up-to-date.

Unfortunately, the wallet doesn't pair with a website or desktop interface, so accessing your coins can only be done through your mobile wallet. The good news, however, is that Mycelium users have the option to sync their wallet with a hardware wallet in order to ensure maximum protection over your their.

2. Breadwallet

Looking for a simpler alternative to Mycelium? BreadWallet has you covered. known as one of the most easy-to-use bitcoin Android wallets on the market. Similiar to Mcelium, the source code of BreadWallet is public, meaning the community has your back with security and functionality updates. Note that BreadWallet is a simplified wallet app, meaning it comes with minimal "send" and "receive" options for your wallet.

BreadWallet is especially great for those who are just getting started with mobile bitcoin wallets, although more advanced users will be better off with a more advanced wallet app. BreadWallet is best if you plan on exclusively sending and receiving bitcoin for personal transactions, but remember the security is minimal, so be cautious of your actions. Similiar to Mycelium, BreadWallet is only available for mobile devices. Look for it on iOS and Android app stores.

3. Copay

Yet another open source wallet on our list, Copay is one of the very first multisig wallets available to the public, brought to you by Bitpay. Short for multisignature, a multisig transaction involving a Copay wallet required that specific transaction to be approved by multiple keys before being executed. While multisignature transactions enhance overall security, it can be confusing for newbies, giving itself a more advanced audience. Unlike the other wallets previously mentioned, Copay fortunately has a desktop interface available. You can find Copay on Android and iOS app stores.

4. Jaxx

New and somewhat controversial in the scene, Jaxx comes in hot as our 4th Android bitcoin wallet. Jaxx is one of the most popular wallets, and for good reasons. Equipped with an intuitive GUI, wallet access across multiple devices, and compatibility with other cryptocurrencies, Jaxx is a one-in-all for cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Users who have a portfolio including Ehtereum, Litecoin, and other popular cryptocurrencies will able to sync all of their accounts to Jaxx.

What hinders Jaxx is the fact that it is not open source, shutting out a whole demographic of users. Making matters worse, a safety concern raised by developers within the community regarding wallet security has not yet been resolved. Jaxx is a great concept, but due to these difficult to ignore concerns it is highly advised to not store a large amount of coins on Jaxx. Once all issues have been resolved, Jaxx will be one of the better Android wallet apps on the Play store.

5. Airbitz

Surprise, surprise: another open source Android bitcoin wallet to consider. At first sight, Airbitz resembles BreadWallet's simplicity, but it takes the extra step to appeal to bitcoin consumers by displaying a large number of merchants accepting bitcoin. Finding discounted gift cards is made easy with the help of Airbitz. As you can see, Airbitz is much more consumer oriented compared to the previously listed wallets.

6. GreenAddress (aka GreenBits)

Last, but certainly not least, GreenAddress is the final competitor in our top Android bitcoin wallet list. You can expect advanced wallet features, solid security, but a slightly weaker user experience compared to others such as Airbitz. GreenAddress is overall complex, so we do not recommend it for newbies or pure consumers.

Whichever mobile Android wallet you choose, remember to always take certain precautions to ensure your cryptocurrencies are always protected. Always set a PIN for your wallet to prevent a lost or stolen phone from giving access to malicious users. If the app doesn't allow a PIN, recommend it to the developer, or consider finding a new app. Take note of the 12-24 word seed received at wallet creation, this can be used for future wallet recovery purposes.

Good luck, and choose your app wisely. Never forget to use proper security measures to never lose a bitcoin!

Summary

Good luck, and choose your app wisely. Never forget to use proper security measures to never lose a bitcoin!

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